# LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I 






I j/iU/ ys3'sc. % 

# ^ 1-^7^ # 

I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. | 



^ A 



LADDER TO LEARNING 



FOR 



LITTLE CLIMBEKS. 



SHOWING HOW PLAY AND STUDY MAY BE COMBINED. 



PREPARED FOR THE USE OF "KINDERGARTENS," INFANT, 
PRIMARY, AND PARISH SCHOOLS. 



By MRS. ANNA M. HYDE, 

AUTHOE OF "AMERICAN BOY'S LIFE OF WASHINGTON," "ENGLISH HISTOKT 
CONDENSED AND SIMPLIFIED," ETC., ETC. 




3^^^,-^ 



PHILADELPHIA^*: J 
CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER, 

624, 626 & 628 MARKET STREET. 
1873. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 

ANNA M. HYDE, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



< 



«y-^t 1/-'^ : ^^^tf 

y** J. FAGAN & SON, *^ ^ 

STEREOTYPE FOUNDERS, K^&A. 

PHILADELPHIA. Kt:^ 
X^ ^5S 



INTRODUCTION. 



ri^HOUGH it has been wisely declared that " of the 
X making of books there is no end," yet it may still 
be found that there is room for one, with some novel 
and attractive features, prepared exclusively on the 
learning-made-easy plan, and intended to facilitate 
the child's progress in those branches where the 
memory is especially taxed. It must not be made an 
objection to this effort, that "a little learning is a 
dangerous thing," because all acquisitions of knowl- 
edge are necessarily small at the beginning. There 
is more poetry than truth in the line ; for learning of 
the right kind, little though it be, if well fixed in the 
memory, will be found not only convenient, but per- 
manently useful. Not that the outlines of study 
herein contained should be considered enough, but 
that they may serve to interest the learner in what is 
before him, as well as to sharpen his appetite for 
more. As a child is taught the multiplication table, 
never afterwards forgetting it, so he may be taught 
History or Geography, provided it be presented in a 



IV INTRODUCTION. 

condensed and attractive form. Memory is the bot- 
tom round in the ladder to learning. Secure a foot- 
hold there, and the ascent is comparatively easy. In 
after life, when cares of active business have crowded 
from his mind the more elaborate studies of the school 
and college, the simple lessons of early childhood will 
be found to have outlived them all. Such lessons it 
is the object of this little book to teach. 

The present volume was first published in 1859, and 
was so well received that, after passing through sev- 
eral editions, a revision has been found necessary, in 
order to keep pace with the History and Geography 
of our own growing country. The book has also been 
improved by the addition of several chapters on His- 
tory, Geography, and Grammar. 

The idea of teaching the elementary branches to 
little children by means of simple rhymes, has been 
tested, and found to be entirely practicable. In most 
schools these lessons will be used as general exercises, 
being recited in concert, or sung to such simple tunes 
as the teachers may themselves select. In this way 
they will be found both entertaining and instructive. 

A. M. H. 



CONTENTS, 



PAGB 

Knowledge and its Uses 7 

Geography Lesson — No. 1 9 

No. 2 12 

" " No. 3 15 

Lesson on General History 17 

Leading Events in American History 23 

Grammar in Verse 25 

History of America 31 

Geography of the United States 41 

History of England 52 

The Succession of English Sovereigns 55 

A Child's History of England, from the Nor- 
man Conquest 56 

Chart of Scripture History 63 

The Books of the Bible 67 

Arithmetic 71 

Numbers 73 

Grammar 75 

Astronomy 77 

The Solar System 81 

The Moon 84 

Months of the Year 88 

The Seasons 90 

1* V 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 



KNOWLEDGE AND ITS USES. 



&EOGRAPHY describes the earth — 
Its surface, land or sea ; 
Tells where its countries may be found, 
Or lakes and towns may be. 

History tells of times gone by, 
What kings have lived and died ; 

Recording all that has been done 
By nations great and wide. 

Arithmetic shows how to write 

The figures on a slate, 
And add, or calculate with ease, 

All numbers, small or great. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Grammar will teach us how to speak 
Our language plain and well ; 

And how to read and write the same, 
Its rules will also tell. 

Astronomy tells us of the stars 

And planets in the sky ; 
And will be found by those who learn, 

A study grand and high. 

Botany speaks to us of plants, 

Describing how they grow ; 
And classifies each tiny flower 

That in the fields may blow. 

Philosophy explains the laws 
Of Nature's wondrous plan ; 

And points us to the great First Cause, 
Who made the earth and man. 

And onward as we travel 

In learning's pleasant way, 
We see what endless treasures 

Around our footsteps lay. 

Child, if earthly knowledge charm thee, 
And thou heed its winning call, 

Seek, besides, that higher knowledge 
Of the God who made us all ! 



GEOGKAPHY LESSON. No. 1. 



GEOGRAPHY describes the Earth, • 
Its surface, land or sea ; 
Tells where its countries may be found, 
Or lakes and towns may be. 

It tells us that the world is round, 

A vast suspended ball ; 
And turns upon a fancied line 

Which we its axis call. 

The ends of this great axis 
Are called the poles of Earth ; 

The lower one the Southern Pole, 
The upper one the North. 

The top of every map is north, 

The bottom south will be, 
With right hand east, and left hand west. 

Four compass points we '11 see. 

Imaginary circles 

Extend the globe around. 
Meridians and parallels. 

By which degrees are found. 



10 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

The equator is the central line, 
Exteiuliug rouud the earth ; 

The latitude of any place 

Counts from it south or north. 

Longitude means the distance east 

Or west, as it may l)e ; 
At top and bottom of the map 

Its figures you may see. 

Five zones or belts divide the earth ; 

The Torrid, hot and dry, 
Two Frigid zones around the poles ; 

Between, two Temjoerates lie. 

The earth's vast surface is composed 
Of land and water, too ; 

And on the map we may behold 
All clearly brought to view. 

A great body of salt water 

Is an ocean or a sea, 
And where it spreads into the land, 

A bay or gidf 'twill be. 

A narrow passage between seas. 
Channels or straits we call, 

Water enclosed by land are lakes, 
AVhether they 're large or small. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 11 

Rivers are streams of water 

That run toward the ocean ; 
The creeks and brooks are little streams 

Of rapid onward motion. 

The continents are tracts of land, 
Where countries vast are found ; 

An island is a smaller one, 
With water all around. 

Peninsulas are lands almost 

Surrounded by the sea ; 
And if a narrow neck should join. 

An isthmus it will be. 

Capes are projecting points of land 

Upon the ocean shore ; 
The promontory rises up 

A thousand feet or more. 

Mountains are lofty tracts of land 

Uprising toward the sky ; 
Volcanoes cast down fire and smoke 

Out from their craters high. 

Thus hills and valleys, streams and plains. 

Vary the face of earth ; 
How great the Wisdom that has planned 

The power that gave them birth. 



GEOGKAPHY LESSON. No. 2. 



JUST five-and-twenty thousand miles we find 
Will be the measure all around the sphere, 
While but a third of that, we '11 bear in mind. 
Gives us the distance through, or very near. 

The surface of our earth is land and sea — 
Of land you'll find there 's but one-fourth, or 
quarter, 

While all the rest (three-quarters more) must be 
Covered with different kinds or depths of water. 

DIVISIONS OF LAND. 

Divisions of the land we thus describe — 
Continent, Isthmus, Islands, Mountains high, 

Peninsulas and Promontories, Deserts wide. 

And capes and plains, with Jiills and valleys nigh. 

A Continent 's a large extent of land. 

Containing various countries, climes, and na- 
tions ; 
There are but two, as you should understand. 
Differing both in their size and populations. 

12 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 13 

The Eastern one upon the map, you '11 see, 

Containing Europe, Asia, Africa. 
Upon the Western Continent ive live, 

Which North and South America will give. 

Islands are land, with water all around. 

Of various size, in lakes or seas they 're found. 

An Isthmus is a narrow neck or band, 
That joins two continents, or broader land. 

A narrow strip of land that stretches far 
Into the sea is a Peninsula. 

A point of land that borders on the sea, 

"We call a Cape; a lighthouse there should be. 

The Promontory's point is high and steep, 
A lofty cape, o'erhanging the great deep. 

Deserts are barren wastes of burning sand ; 
Mountains are lofty hills, sublime and grand. 

Valleys we find the highest hills between, 
And Plains are fertile fields of lovely green. 

DIVISIONS OF WATER. 

Salt Seas and Oceans, broad and vast, behold. 
With Gulfs or Bays, and Lakes and Elvers, too. 



14 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Sounds, Chmmels, Harbors, all the maps unfold, 
The Straits and crowded Archipelago. 

An Ocean 's salt water of boundless expanse, 
Stretching farther than eyesight may reach at a 
glance. 

A Sea, not so vast, is encompassed by land ; 
The difference between them you '11 thus under- 
stand. 

When into the land spreads the Ocean or Sea, 
It is known by the name of a GulJ or a Bay. 

Rivers are swiftly flowing streams, that widen as 

they go. 
To pour their waters in the sea, their currents 

onward flow. 

Lahes are fresh-water seas, both large and small, 
By land surrounded you will find them all. 

The Straits are narrow passages, connecting lakes 

or seas ; 
Chaymels are only wider straits that may be 

crossed with ease. 

Harbors are ports of safety from the storm. 
Where vessels for protection always come. 

An Archipelago we always call 

A sea that 's full of islands great and small. 



GEOGRAPHY LESSON. No. 3. 



THE FIVE GRAND DIVISIONS OF THE EARTH. 

THE world that we inhabit, 
Geographers embrace 
In five, called " grand," divisions, 
And here their names we '11 trace. 

America 's a continent, 

Vast, and important, too ; 
Its coasts are washed by oceans, 

As on the map we view. 

Europe, the smallest of the five, 

Is great in population, 
And counts upon her list of States 

Full many a powerful nation. 

' Asia comprises more than half 
The eastern hemisphere. 
And various races of mankind 
Upon its face appear. 

15 



16 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Africa's vast peninsula 

Has been but little known ; 

Its burning sands and desert wastes 
Are in the torrid zone. 

By name of Oceanica, 

The fifth great part comprises, 
The islands of the ocean, 

Of various forms and sizes. 

Elvers and lakes of largest kind, 

America can boast ; 
Europe excels in works of art. 

And commerce on its coast. 

Asia supplies the world with tea, 
With spices and perfimies ; 

And Afrie's central darkness 
No Christian ray illumes. 

Yet God himself hath said it. 
The day is drawing near 

"When the all-glorious gospel 
Each heathen land shall hear. 



LESSON ON GENERAL HISTORY. 



A HISTORY is a record of events ; a narra- 
tive of facts which have really taken place. 

Ancient History begins with the account of the 
Creation in the Book called Genesis, and extends 
through the whole of the Bible. This portion of 
History is called Sacred, because it was written 
by holy men inspired by God ; but we have other 
portions of Ancient History, which relate to the 
early heathen nations of the world, and these are 
included in what we call Profane History. 

In studying or reading History, we constantly 
meet with the letters A. M., A, D., B. C, placed 
before or after dates. 

A. M. stands for Anno Mundi, or the year of 
the world ; that is, since the world was created, 
and is always used by the Jews, who date from 
that period. 

A, D. stands for Anno Domini; that is, the 
year of our Lord, or since the birth of Christ, the 
period from which Christians date, usually called 
the Christian Era. 

2* B 17 



18 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

B. C signifies Before Christ, and dates back- 
ward from our Saviour's birth. 

The first historian who ever lived was Moses, 
and his records are the first five books of the 
Bible. The first person spoken of in history as 
a king was Nimrod, the grandson of Ham, who 
was probably the founder of the great city of 
Babylon. 

Herodotus was the earliest writer of Profane 
History, whose works have been preserved, and 
lived about four hundred and eighty years before 
our Saviour; hence he is sometimes called the 
Father of History. His writings embrace ac- 
counts of the Modes and Persians, the Egyptians, 
Greeks, Macedonians, etc. 

The four chief nations of Ancient Histoiy were 
Assyria, or Babylon; Persia, spoken of in the 
Bible as the kingdom of the Medes and Persians ; 
Greece, or Macedonia ; and Rome. 

Assyria, the first, derived its name from Ashur, 
the grandson of Noah, and son of Shem, and is 
sometimes called the Babylonian empire, from its 
chief city, Babylon. 

Persia, the second, became a powerful nation in 
the reign of Cyrus the Mede, who conquered 
Babylon. Egypt was also added to the kingdom 
by his son Cambyses, about five hundred years 
before Christ. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 19 

The third great empire was that of Greece, or 
Macedonia. This at first included several inde- 
pendent States, namely : Athens, Sparta, Lace- 
daemon, Thebes, and Macedonia, whose inhabitants 
were all celebrated for their learning, and excel- 
lence in the arts. Under Alexander the Great, 
king of Macedonia, the kingdom of Persia was 
conquered, and thus Greece became mistress of 
the known world. After the death of Alexander, 
it was again divided into four kingdoms, and con- 
tinued so for about three hundred years, when the 
whole Macedonian Empire became subject to 
Rome. Afterward, when the Eastern and West- 
ern Empires were divided, Greece became a part 
of the Eastern. In A. d. 14, it was made a Turk- 
ish province, and continued so until 1821, when, 
after a revolution of several years' duration, the 
present independence of Greece was established. 

The Roman Empire was the fourth great power 
of antiquity, and was named from its chief city, 
Rome. It was founded by Romulus and his 
brother Remus, about 750 b. c. Its language was 
the Latin, and its government was at first a mon- 
archy, being ruled by seven kings, next a re- 
public, and afterward an empire. 

The first emperor of Rome was Julius Csesar. 
It was in the reign of his successor, Augustus, 



20 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

that our Saviour was born in Bethlehem of Judea, 
which was then a part of the Roman possessions. 
The Empire of Rome at that time extended from 
the rivers Rhine and Danube, on the north, to 
the Desert of Arabia and Africa, on the south, 
and from the Atlantic Ocean, on the west, to the 
river Euphrates, on the east. 

During the reign of the third emperor, Tibe- 
rius, our Saviour's crucifixion took place. The 
city of Jerusalem was destroyed according to His 
prophecy in the reign of the tenth emperor, Ves- 
pasian. The first Christian emperor was Con- 
stantine, who is said to have been converted to 
Christianity by a miracle. He removed the seat 
of government from Rome to Byzantium, the 
name of which city he changed to Constanti- 
nople. 

During the reigns of many of the Roman em- 
perors, the Christians suffered great persecution, 
and numbers were put to death with horrible 
cruelty. These persecutions ended with the reign 
of Domitian ; but it was not until about A. d. 400, 
that Christianity was firmly established in the 
Roman Empire. 

At that time the empire was divided, and the 
western part of it was invaded by barbarians, 
Goths, Huns, and Vandals, from the north, who 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 21 

conquered and held possession until the time of 
Charlemagne, or Charles the Great. He formed 
a new empire of the western part of Europe, 
A. D. 800. 

For many centuries, Italy, once the great centre 
of the original empire, has been divided into sev- 
eral States, some of which are independent and 
governed by kings of their own, and others are 
subject to some of the great European powers. 

The Pope of Rome first became a temporal 
prince about the middle of the eighth century* 
when Pepin, king of France, gave the govern- 
ment of Kavenna to Pope Stephen II., in return 
for some favor shown him by a former Pope. 
From the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries the 
Papal power was very great; but since then it 
has been steadily declining, both spiritually and 
temporally, until the whole extent of territory 
embraced under its sovereign rule became less than 
many of our own United States. 

Within a few years, however, the Papal States 
have been embraced in the dominion of United 
Italy, and its present king, Victor Emanuel, has 
taken possession of the city of Rome itself, where 
his capital is now established. Thus, the sov- 
ereign Pontiff can no longer be considered a tem- 
poral prince, although he still holds p^ iritual 



22 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

dominion over his Church in all parts of the 
world. 

In this brief outline of the great j^owers of 
antiquity, we may see how short is the duration 
of human kingdoms, and in how few years the 
greatest of earthly empires, with their languages 
and customs, may disappear from the face of the 
globe. 

In China and Japan, whose peculiar policy it 
has ever been to exclude all intercourse with for- 
eign nations, great changes have recently taken 
place. Especially with Japan, we have entered 
into important treaties of commerce and friend- 
ship, and the most rapid advances in their civil- 
ization have followed. European customs have 
been largely adopted there, and the modern im- 
provements of science, so universal in our land — 
telegraphs, railroads, steam-power, gas-lights, etc., 
are now being used by them. Christianity is also 
permitted, and protected, and education encour- 
aged. 

Such a remarkable change in the characteristic 
principles of this ancient eastern nation may be 
regarded as one of the greatest wonders of mod- 
ern history, and may speedily bring about the 
time predicted, when the kingdoms of this world 
shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and 
Saviour. 



LEADING EVENTS IN AMERICAN HIS- 
TORY. 

INTENDED TO ASSIST THE MEMOKY IN RETAINING DATES. 



IN fourteen hundred and ninety-two, 
Columbus crossed the waters blue. 
In five years more the Cabots went 
And found the Western Continent. 
The oldest town, St. Augustine, 
In fifteen sixty-five was seen. 
On Plymouth Rock the Pilgrim band 
In sixteen twenty came to land. 
In seventeen hundred seventy-six. 
Our independence we did fix. 
And- then there came seven years of war 
Before its blessings were made sure. 
In seventeen eighty-two, we find, 
Was the treaty of peace with England signed. 
Brave Washington our armies led, 
And then first President was made. 
In seventeen hundred ninety-nine, 
The hero did his life resisfn. 



24 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

In eigliteen hundred first began 
Congress to meet at Washington. 
In eighteen twelve another war 
Against Great Britain did we declare. 
But when three years of strife were spent, 
A treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 
In eighteen hundred sixty-one, 
Our dreadful Civil War begun ; 
For slavery — that sinful cause. 
Vile treason set aside our laws ; 
The blood of many, true and brave, 
Was given their country's life to save. 
In eighteen hundred sixty-three, 
While still was waged the dreadful war 
Great Lincoln set the bondsmen free, 
And thus abolished slavery. 
His death by an assassin's hand 
Next year with horror filled the land, 
Just as rebellion was suppressed. 
And victory our land had blessed. 

And now in peace, with one accord. 
Soon may our Union be restored. 



GKAMMAR IN VEESE. 



TO speak and write the English tongue 
Must be our study while we 're young ; 
To do correctly both in turn, 
The English Grammar we must learn. 

The language that herein we teach 
Is formed of sundry parts of speech ; 

Nine sorts of words compose it all, 
And when we speak, or write, or sing, 

They come, as we may bid or call, 

To sound our thoughts for everything. 

The first we call an Article ; 

A Noun the next we give ; 
The Pronoun follows them in turn, 

And useful Adjective. 

Then comes the Verb, and as you learn, 
You '11 hear of verbs of numerous kind ; 

The Adverb next you'll soon discern. 
And then the Preposition find. 
3 25 



26 A. LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Conjunctions next, and last of all 

The Interjection see ; 
These nine the parts of speech we call, 

And well the whole agree. 

First come the Articles, in number three, 
Those little words a, an, and the. 

How strange it is, when once 'tis known, 
We always use them with a Noun ; 

They stand for nothing when alone. 
And so we say a king, a crown. 

An ox, an apple, an event, 

The baby's doll, the cradle-bed, 

J. man that to the meeting went, 
A lamb unto the slaughter led. 

A Nouyi is what we taste or see. 

Or even think about, 
Ko matter where or what it be. 

As we shall point it out. 

Thus Tom 's a Noun, and so is Jane, 
A hooh, a dog, a cow, or cat, 

And baby's doll and father's cane. 
And Anna's shawl and Edwin's hat. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 27 

The Pronoun's use 'tis plain to see, 
If you will but attentive be. 

Suck words as you and we and that. 
As he and him, and she and they, 

As my great-coat, or your old hat. 
As his new shoes and our fine play. 

How many Pronouns we may trace, 
We cannot stay to count or tell ; 

But as of Nouns they take the place, 
Be sure to learn their history well. 

To this succeeds the Adjective. 

We use it added to a noun ; 
Its kind, or shape, or size to give. 

As good or bad, or black or brown. 



Our Tom, we know, is never bad ; 

We know our waiting-man is black ; 
That Jane is gay, and Anna sad, 

And soft and smooth is pussy's back. 

A cross old cat, a good dog Tray, 
An ugly doll, a pretty kite, 

A starlit morn, a cloudy day, 
A sultry noon, a chilly night. 



28 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

The Fer6 comes next, by which we saijy 
That we can have, or he, or do ; 

That we may laugh, and sing, and plaij, 
And sometimes go a walking, too. 

When Harry eats his cake at tea, 
Or Mary takes her evening walk, 

Or Cousin Jenny comes to see 
If we 're inclined to sing or talk ; 

Then these would all verbs active be, 
Because in all you action see ; 

But when mamma, who loves us true, 
To us shall sometimes kindly say, 

" You 're loved by me, and I by you " 

They 're passive verbs when put that way. 

Or just suppose, for fancy's sake, 
I sent my wheat to mill to grind, 

Then made you all some dainty cake — 
These are verbs active, you will find. 

But then, when you 'd begun to eat 

The good things thus brought in by me, 

" Eating " is active, as you know. 

But " brought " a passive verb will be. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 29 

Adverbs to verbs the help extend, 

That adjectives to nouns impart ; 
You wish to know how Harry came ? 

The adverb says he came " quite s^nart." 

Or if in seeking to explain 

How Mary danced, or Fanny read. 

The adverb comes in here again — 
They both did " very ivell," 'twas said. 

The Preposition, when alone. 

For nothing stands ; but with a noun, 
It says, " Don't tread upon that stone," 

" See, here we are, before the town." 

Above, below, beneath, around. 

With of, and by, and many more. 

As prepositions will be found. 

Thus, "m the room," or "through the door." 

Without Conjunctions we should lack 
The means of joining words together ; 

You could not say, " There 's Tom or Jack," 
"And here is Ann, but not her brother." 

Although they 're only little words. 

Important sentences they join : 
" He 's wealthy, yet his money hoards, 

lior spares the poor a single coin." 



30 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

We use the Literjection when 

We should express surprise, or glee, 

Or pain, or grief; as we should then 

Exclaim, "Alas/" " Oh my!'' ''Dear me!" 

Thus, children, having shown the way 

In which our language may be learned. 
And how of every word you say. 

The name and nature is discerned ; 
I would not have you once suppose 

That all the grammar I have taught ; 
For, as each older student knows, 

Learning by study must be bought. 

And soon in larger books you '11 see 
That nouns and verbs must all agree ; 
For nouns have number, person, case, 
And every verb has mood and tense. 
To tell you all would spoil my rhyme. 
And so until another time, 

I'll bid my little friends — Farewell. 



HISTOEY OF AMEKICA. 



AMERICA was discovered in the year 1492, 
by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, 
in Italy. He was a poor man, and was the son 
of a wool-comber ; but being very fond of navi- 
gation and astronomy, and having made many 
successful voyages, he was seized with a great 
desire to discover a westerly passage to India, 
hoping also to find some new countries in the 
way. 

But he was a poor man, and for want of the 
necessary means to fit out such an undertaking, 
he was obliged to wait some years. Many ridi- 
culed his plans, and some thought him crazy; 
but at length Isabella, Queen of Spain, becoming 
interested in the scheme, sold some of her own 
jewels, and with the proceeds procured three 
small ships, named the Santa Maria, the Pinta, 
and the Nina, with ninety men, and provisions 
sufiicient to last them a whole year. 

Thus equipped, Columbus set sail on the 3d of 

31 



32 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

August, 1492, from a port in Spain called Palos, 
and proceeded west for many weeks, until the 
men that were with him became discouraged, and 
begged him to return. He at first spoke kindly 
to them, and persuaded them to continue; but 
when he found they were really determined to 
turn back, he threatened them with severe punish- 
ment unless they yielded to his wishes. Finally, 
when he had almost given up the hope of finding 
what he so much desired, he made a promise that 
if land was not discovered in three days, they 
should at once return. 

On the third night, as Columbus paced the 
deck of the Santa Maria in sadness and despair, 
there came a cry of " Land ! land ! " The people 
in the Pinta had just seen a light at a distance, 
and when morning came, on the 12th day of Oc- 
tober, they discovered a beautiful island, covered 
with green trees and shrubs, and inhabited by a 
copper-colored people, whom Columbus named 
Indians, because he supposed they had sailed 
around the world to India. 

This island was one of the West Indies, and 
was called by him San Salvador. 

Five years afterwards the continent of North 
America was discovered by Sebastian Cabot, a 
native of Venice ; and in the same year Amer- 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 33 

icus Vespucius, a Florentine, discovered South 
America. 

The reports of the richness of the country, and 
the abundance of gold and silver, brought many- 
Europeans to settle; and the first colony was 
established in Mexico. 

The first settlement in what are now the United 
States was made in Florida, by the Spaniards, in 
1524; and in 1821 it was bought by the United 
States from Spain for five millions of dollars. 

Virginia was settled in 1607 by English people, 
w^ho came with Captain John Smith, and sailed 
up James Eiver to Jamestown. The river and 
town were both named in honor of the king of 
England, James I. 

New York was settled in 1614 by the Dutch, 
and was made an English colony in 1664. 

Massachusetts was settled in 1620 by the Puri- 
tans, a religious sect in England, who came to 
America on account of their religious scruples. 

New Hampshire was settled in 1623 by emi- 
grants from Massachusetts. 

New Jersey was settled in 1624 by the Swedes 
and Dutch. The English obtained possession 
during the reign of Charles II. 

Delaware was settled in 1G27 by the Swedes. It 
was given up to the English government in 1664. 
C 



34 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Maryland was settled in 1634 by Lord Bal- 
timore and other Komau Catholics of England, 
who left Virginia on account of religious perse- 
cution. 

Connecticut was settled in 1635 by emigrants 
from Massachusetts. 

Rhode Island was settled in 1636 by Roger 
Williams, who was banished from Massachusetts 
because of his religious opinions. 

North Carolina was settled by emigrants from 
Virginia, about 1645. 

South Carolina was settled in 1670 by English 
people. In 1685 many French Huguenots, ban- 
ished from France in tli:e reign of Louis XIV., 
took up their abode in the colony. 

Pennsylvania was settled in 1682 by AVilliam 
Penn, who obtained the land from the king of 
England, in payment of a debt due to his father. 
He afterwards purchased it from the Indians who 
lived upon the spot. 

Georgia was settled in 1733 by the English, and 
was named after the reigning king, George II. 

These were the thirteen original States ; but for 
many years they were called English Colonies, and 
were governed by England. But in 1776 they 
declared themselves independent ; and after a long 
and trying war their independence was acknowl- 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 35 

edged, and they became a separate government. 
This was called the American Revolution. 

A republican form of government was then 
chosen ; that is, one in which the people them- 
selves choose the officers to rule over them. A 
constitution and code of laws were framed, and 
the two houses of Congress established. 

The Senate, or upper house, represents the 
States, each State sending two Senators to Con- 
gress. The House of Eepresentatives, or lower 
house, represents the people, as about every 
ninety-four thousand people can send one Rep- 
resentative. 

There are at present thirty-eight States. 
After the original thirteen, others were settled 
in the following order : 

Vermont, admitted into the Union in 1791.* 
Kentucky, settled in 1775, admitted in 1792.* 
Tennessee, settled in 1765, admitted in 1796.* 
Ohio, settled in 1788, admitted in 1802.* 
Louisiana, settled by the French in 1699, ceded 
by France to the United States for fifteen millions 
of dollars in 1803, admitted into the Union in 
1816. 

Indiana, settled by the French in 1730, sur- 
rendered to the English in 1763, admitted 1816. 

* Settled by colonists from other States. 



3d a iadder to learning. 

Mississippi, settled by the French, who ceded 
it to England in 1763, admitted in 1817. 

Illinois, settled by the French, became subject 
to England in 1762, admitted into the Union, 
1818. 

Alabama, admitted into the Union in 1819. 

Maine, settled in 1628, admitted 1820. 

Missouri, settled by the French in 1763, ad- 
mitted in 1821. 

Michigan, settled by the French in 1670, ad- 
mitted in 1836. 

Arkansas, settled by Spanish and French, ad 
mitted in 1836. 

Florida, Iowa, and Texas, were admitted in 
1845. 

California was admitted into the Union in 
1850. 

Minnesota was admitted in 1858. 

Oregon, in 1859. 

Kansas, in 1861. 

Nevada, in 1864. 

Nebraska, in 1867. 

Colorado, in 1872. 

West Virginia was formed by the division of 
the State of Virginia, and admitted in 1865. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 37 

The chief magistrate of this great Republic is 
called the President, and is elected every four 
years. Another officer, styled the Vice-President, 
is elected at the same time, who is entrusted with 
important duties; in case of the death of the 
President during his term of office, the Vice- 
President takes his place, and becomes President 
of the United States for the remainder of the term. 

The first President was General George Wash- 
ington, commander-in-chief of the American army 
during the war of independence. He was a native 
of Virginia, and was inaugurated in 1789. He 
served eight years, being re-elected. 

2d. John Adams, a native of Massachusetts, 
was inaugurated in 1797. Served four years. 

3d. Thomas Jefferson, a native of Virginia, was 
inaugurated in 1801. Served eight years. 

4th. James Madison, a native of Virginia, was 
inaugurated in 1809. Served eight years. 

5th. James Monroe, a native of Virginia, was 
inaugurated in 1817. Served eight years. 

6th. John Quincy Adams, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, was inaugurated in 1825. Served four 
years. 

7th. Andrew Jackson, a native of South Caro- 
lina, was inaugurated in 1829. Served eight years. 



38 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

8th. Martin Van Buren, a native of New York, 
was inaugurated in 1837. Served four years. 

9tli. William H. Harrison, a native of Ohio, 
was inaugurated in 1841. Died one month after- 
ward. 

10th. John Tyler, Vice-President, a native of 
Virginia, was inaugurated in 1841. Served three 
years and eleven months. 

11th. James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was inau- 
gurated in 1845. Served four years. 

12th. Zachary Taylor, a native of Louisiana, 
was inaugurated in 1849. Died one year and 
four months afterward. 

13th. Millard Fillmore, Vice-President, a na- 
tive of New York, was inaugurated in 1850. 
Served two years and eight months. 

14th. Franklin Pierce, a native of New Hamp- 
shire, was inaugurated in 1853. Served four 
years. 

15th. James Buchanan, a, native of Pennsyl- 
vania, was inaugurated in 1857. Served four 
years. 

16th. Abraham Lincoln, a native of Kentucky, 
was inaugurated in 1861. Served four years and 
forty-one days. He died by the hand of a wicked 
assassin on the 14th of April, 1865. 

17th. Andrew Johnson, Vice-President, a na- 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 39 

tive of Tennessee, was inaugurated in 1865. 
Served three years and nearly eleven months. 

18th. Ulysses S. Grant was inaugurated 1869. 
Re-elected in 1872. 



After the election of Abraham Lincoln, a ter- 
rible rebellion broke out in our happy and pros- 
perous country. The people of the South wished 
to destroy the Union, and set up a separate gov- 
ernment for themselves. 

This caused a civil war between the North and 
South, which continued for four years, and cost 
many valuable lives on both sides, besides many 
millions of dollars. 

But the Union armies, under Generals Grant, 
Sherman, Sheridan, and other great leaders, were 
at last victorious, and the armies of the rebellion 
surrendered, and submitted once more to the law- 
ful government of the United States. 

Emancipation was first proclaimed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln on the 22d of September, 1862, as 
a war measure, and was confirmed by another 
proclamation on the 1st of January, 1863. But 
this only applied to the slaves of rebels then in 
arms against the Government. 



40 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

In 1865, Congress passed an amendment to the 
Constitution, by which slavery is to be forever 
abolished throughout the United States. This 
has been ratified by the Legislatures of three- 
fourths of the States, and has thus become the 
law of the whole nation. 

Notwithstanding the bitter hatred which ex- 
isted between the two sections of our great coun- 
try during that dreadful war, it is hoped that per- 
manent peace is now established ; and by the con- 
tinued blessing of Almighty God on our land, to 
whose care alone we owe the victory, it will go 
on increasing in wealth and prosperity, maintain- 
ing its high position as one of the most powerful 
nations of the world. 

One hundred years ago there were only one 
million inhabitants in our entire territory; now 
there are nearly fifty millions. We have public 
schools, in which the children of the poor may be 
educated without cost ; while liberty of conscience 
and the freedom of the press are granted to all. 
May we not fitly conclude by quoting here the 
Psalmist's words : 

" Happy is that people that is in such a case ; 
yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." 
Fs. xliv. 



A GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 



THIETY-EIGHT States we now can boast 
In this confederation ; 
And now, among the powers that be, 

We are a mighty nation. 
Our lands, outstretching far and wide, 

Are bounded by the oceans ; 
And commerce takes to all the world 
Our well-known " Yankee Notions." 

Upon our northern boundary 

Are seen the mighty lakes ; 
And through our midst its rushing course 

The Mississippi takes ; 
Connecting Minnesota 

With the Gulf of Mexico — 
The climes of endless summer 

With those of ice and snow. 

Hence, all the varied products 
Of many a foreign land, 
4* 



42 A LADDKR TO LEARNING. 

Within our own wide borders, 

Are ever at command. 
The cotton and the sugar-cane, 

The orange-tree and rice ; 
And from the north come costly furs, 

To keep us warm and nice. 

Then from the hills and by the streams 

Is dug and washed the gold ; 
While iron, copper, lead abound 

In quantities untold. 
Thus, children, we may well be proud 

Of this our favored land ; 
And serve her, too, with all the zeal 

A patriot can command ; 
Kemembering how our fathers bought 

Its freedom with their blood, 
We '11 prove ourselves the worthy sons 

Of sires so great and good. 



[In many Infant Schools, singing forms a part of the 
exercises, and may be made a useful and attractive assistant 
to the memory, especially in such pieces as this. The well- 
known airs of " Auld Lang Syne," " Yankee Doodle," etc., 
can readily be adapted to these words.] 

The six Northeastern States we call 
New England — " Yankee Land ! " 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 43 

They boast of finer colleges 
Than others can command. 

Maine, on the eastern boundary, 
Some seaboard trade can show ; 

Augusta is the capital ; 

From Portland ships do go. 

New Hampshire next, with mountains White; 

Of towns it has no lack. 
Concord is the capital, 

On the river Merrimac. 

Then comes Vermont, shaped long and slim, 
Named from its mountains Green ; 

Montpelier is the capital, 
On the Onion River seen. 

Massachusetts was the Indian name 

Of tribes that held the land. 
Boston is the capital. 

With Harvard close at hand. 

Conjiecticut lies just beneath ; 

Yale College is its pride. 
New Haven is its capital. 

And Hartford's town beside. 



44 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Rhode Island has two capitals, 
Though smallest of the States ; 

At Providence and Newport 
Its Legislature meets. 



The Middle States are counted next — 

Their number is but four. 
They hold the most important place 

Upon the eastern shore. 

The " Empire State," New York we call ; 

Niagara Falls are there; 
New York is our metropolis, 

Whence ships sail everywhere. 

New Jersey's railroads and canals 
Have made her rich and fair ; 

Trenton is the capital, 
On the lovely Delaware. 

Pennsylvania, with its beds of coal, 
We call the " Keystone State ; " 

Its laws are made at Harrishurg; 
The mineral wealth is great. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 45 

The next is little Delaware, 

So famous for its wheat ; 
Dover is the capital — 

Of governmeDt the seat. 



The ten we call the Southern States, 

For many miles extend ; 
On their east is the Atlantic, 

On their west the Rio Grande. 

Maryland shows tobacco-fields ; 

Chief city 's Baltimore ; 
The capital 's Annapolis, 

Upon the Chesapeake shore. 

The District of Columbia 

Is only ten miles square. 
Congress meets at Washington ; 

The President's house is there. 

Virginia was settled first, 
Named from the Virgin Queen ; 

Richmond is the capital. 
On the James River seen. 



46 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

From mines of North Carolina 

Is dug the precious gold ; 
With silver, iron, copper, lead, 

In quantities untold. 

In South Carolina cotton grows 

On many a fine plantation. 
From Charleston ships can bear it thence 

To every foreign nation. 

Georgia has rice, and cotton too, 

And exports pitch and tar. 
The capital is Milledgeville, 

Where the State buildings are. 

Florida 's a peninsula, 

Projecting out to sea. 
Here all the tropic fruits and flowers 

Flourish abundantly. 

And next comes Alabama, 

On the Gulf of Mexico. 
Montgomery 's the capital ; 

Mobile some trade can show. 

Mississippi, bounded on the west 
By the stream that bears its name, 

Has Jackson for its capital. 

And from cotton draws its fame. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 47 

Louisiana raises sugar-cane, 

New Orleans is its pride — 
The greatest seaport of the South, 

With commerce vast and wide. 

Texas is far the largest State, 

With climate mild and warm ; 
The rich luxuriant pasturage 

Is its peculiar charm. 



And Western States, that year by year 
Increase in wealth and strength ; 

With many a railroad and canal 

Throughout their breadth and length. 

In labors agricultural, 

A^'kansas doth excel ; 
With Little Rock the capital. 

And other towns as well. 

Kentucky has the Mammoth Cave — 

Produces hemp and maize. 
Louisville does a thriving trade, 

Exporting what they raise. 



48 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Tennessee is crossed by mountains, 
With rivers in between ; 

Nashville is the capital, 

Where a State-House fine is seen. 

Ohio, 'mid the Western States, 
Shows greatest enterprise ; 

Cincinnati's growing city 

Stands the third in point of size. 

Indiana chie^j draws its wealth 
From cattle, pork, and wheat ; 

Indianapolis, the capital, 
Has public buildings neat. 

Illinois has risen rapidly 
In wealth and population. 

Chicago 's on Lake Michigan, 
At the head of navigation. 

Michigan lies among the lakes ; 

Rich copper mines abound. 
Lansing is the capital. 

And thriving 'twill be found. 

Wisconsin, rich in minerals, 
Has wealthy mines of lead ; 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Madison, the capital, 

Is a pretty town, 'tis said. 

Iowa gives luxuriant crops, 
Raised on its prairie soil, 

And many a valued metal 
Repays the miner's toil. 

Missouri's lead and iron ore 
Have made her rich and great. 

St. Louis is a splendid town, 
The finest in the State. 

California is the " Golden State," 

On the Pacific shore. 
San Francisco is a thriving place, 

Besides a number more. 

Minnesota, far toward the north, 
Still holds its Indian name ; 

Her many scattered tribes subsist 
By selling furs and game. 

Oregon, farthest north and west, 
Was lately made a State ; 

It borders on the ocean. 
With territory great. 
6 D 



60 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Kansas, admitted as a State 
In eighteen sixty-one ; 

Topeka is the capital, 
Its building scarce begun. 

Nevada, rich in silver mines, 
Came eighteen sixty-four ; 

Another star upon the flag 
Her sons so proudly bore. 

Colorado and Nebraska each 
Are full of precious ores, 

Which the Pacific railroads now 
Bring to our Eastern shores. 



And far on our Northwestern coast, 
Where Russia reigned of old, 

Alaska yields us costly furs 
To shield us from the cold. 



Besides the States that have been named. 

We 've Territories great, 
And each of them, in course of time, 

Will doubtless form a State. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 51 

But various subdivisions 

Will doubtless be, before 
They knock to be admitted 

At our governmental door. 

Meanwhile, one common freedom, 

Descended from above. 
Scatters to all the blessings 

Of brotherhood and love. 



HISTOEY OF ENGLAND. 



rpHE first inhabitants of England were called 
JL Britons, of whom little is known, except that 
they were a barbarous people, and their religion 
Paganism. 

Their priests were called Druids, and they 
worshipped in groves of oak. About the year 
54 before Christ, Julius Csesar invaded the island ; 
but, though he invaded, he did not conquer it, as 
they became rather the allies of Kome than its 
captive subjects. 

In the reign of Domitian it was finally subdued, 
and became a province of Kome, A. d. 78. 

In A. D. 410, the Eomans abandoned Briton, 
and the Saxons came from the north of Europe, 
invaded and conquered it ; Egbert becoming the 
first king of England in 827. The Danish king, 
Sweyn, overcame England in 1017 ; the Saxons 
were restored, 1041 ; and the country finally con- 
quered by the Normans in 1066. 

52 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 53 

SAXON KINGS. 

827. Egbert, Edmund, 

Ethelwolf, Edred, 

Ethelbert, Edwy, 

Ethelbald, Edgar, 

Etlielred, Edward the Martyr, 

Alfred the Great, Ethelred II., 

Edward, Edmund Ironsides, 
Athelstane. 

DANISH KINGS. 

Sweyn, Harold I., 

Canute the Great, Hardicanute. 

SAXON LINE RESTORED. 

Edward the Confessor, Harold II. 

NORMAN KINGS. 

\V'illiam the Conqueror, Henry I., 

William Rufus, Stephen, Earl of Blois. 

LINE OF PLANTAGENET. 

Henry II., Edward I., 

Richard I., Edward II., 

John, Edward III., 

Henry III., Richard II. 
5* 



54 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

LINE OF LANCASTER. 

(Badge — a Eed Eose.) 

Henry IV., Henry V., 

Henry VI. 

LINE OF YORK. 

(Badge — a White Eose.) 

Edward IV., " Edward V., 
Richard III. 

Union of the Houses of York and Lancaster, 
(Red and White Roses.) 

LINE OF TUDOR. 

Henry VII., Edward V., 

Henry VIII., Mary, 

Elizabeth. 

Union of the Scotch and English Crowns. 
(Thistle and the Rose.) 

LINE OF STUART. 

James I., Charles I. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 65 

INTERREGNUM. 

The Long Parliament. 

_ f Oliver Cromwell, 

Protectors. | Riehard Cromwell. 

RESTORATION OF THE STUARTS. 

Charles II., William and Mary, 

James II., Anne. 

LINE OF BRUNSWICK. 

George I., George IV., 

George II., William IV., 

George III., Victoria. 



THE SUCCESSION OF ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS — 
IN VERSE. 

First William, the Norman, then William, his 

son; 
Henry, Stephen, and Henry, then Eichard and 

John. 
Next, Henry the Third; Edwards — one, two, 

and three ; 
And again, after Richard, three Henrys we see. 



56 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Two Edwards, then Ricliard, if rightly I guess ; 
Two Henrys, Sixth Edward, Queen Mary, Queen 

Bess. 
Then Jamie the Scotchman ; then Charles, whom 

they slew ; 
Yet received, after Cromwell, another Charles, 

too. 
And next, James the Second ascended the throne; 
Then good William and Mary together came on. 
Till Anne, Georges four, and Fourth William, all 

past, 
God sent us Victoria — may she long be the last ! 

Anonymoiis. 



A CHILD S HISTORY OF ENGLAND — FROM THE 

NORMAN CONQUEST. 
A. D. 

1066. 'Twas William the Conqueror, histories 
tell. 
Who appointed the use of the "Curfew 
Bell." 

1087. William Rufus, his son, while hunting, was 
shot ; 
By him the crusades were first set on foot. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 57 

A. D. 

1100. Henry First was a scholar, and Stephen 

of Blois 
1135. Held the throne as usurper, the heir to 

annoy. 

1154. Henry Second, Plantagenet's line began. 
And was, for those times, a great, wise man. 

1189. Richard First (Coeur de Lion) led forth a 
crusade. 
While at home bold intruders his kingdom 
invade. 

1199. The Magna Charta was given by John, 

Yet Pope Innocent forced him to yield his 
crown. 

1216. His son, Henry Third, though a weak- 
minded man. 
Concluded the treaties his father began. 

1272. Next Edward the First, "Long-Shanks" 
was named ; 
The House of Commons by him was framed. 

1307. Second Edward was weak ; in his lifetime 
we learn, 
The Scotch beat the British at famed Ban- 
nockburn. 



58 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

A. D. 

1328. Edward Third shone at Cressy, with his 
son, the Black Prince, 
Gave the badge of the " Garter " to knights 
ever since. 

1377. Kichard Second, succeeding, was killed by 
his foes. 
Then started the wars of the Eed and 
■ White Kose. 

1399. Henry Fourth, Duke of Lancaster, next 
filled the throne, 
Usurping a kingdom, of right not his own. 

1413. Henry Fifth, brave and warlike, at Agin- 
court fought, 
And to England's proud banner new 
laurels he brought. 

1422. Henry Sixth was deposed, and then slain 
in the Tower, 
When the wronged house of York came 
at last into power. 

1461. Edward Fourth won his crown by the 
shedding of blood. 
And his life seems devoid of one trait that 
is good. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 59 

A. D. 

1483. Edward Fifth, a mere child, in the Tower 
was destroyed 
By ruffians his uncle and guardian em- 
ployed. 

1483. Third Richard, the murderer, was hated 
by all ; 
At the battle of Bosworth he met with his 
fall. 

1485. Henry Seventh, line of Tudor, was peace- 
ful and kind, 
In his reign great Columbus a new world 
did find. 

1509. Henry Eighth, though so vile, Reformation 
begun. 
And published the Word in the plain 
English tongue. 

1547. Edward Sixth, dying young, walked in 
wisdom's bright way ; 
Left his throne to his cousin, poor Lady 

Jane Grey. 
But she was beheaded at once in the 
Tower. 
1553. After which, "Bloodv Mary" asserted her 
power ; 



60 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

A. D. 

Then England was deluged with Protestant 

blood, 
And her bigotry hid every glimmer of 

good. 

1558. Her sister, Elizabeth, was the next queen. 
The Spanish Armada was spoiled in her 
reign. 

1603. James First, son of Mary, the Queen of 
the Scot ; 
In his reign was discovered the " Gun- 
powder Plot." 

1625. Charles First, styled the Martyr, a civil 
war led. 
And closed his career by losing his head. 

1649. Here a long interregnum the factions di- 
vide. 

And Cromwell is chosen Protector and 
guide. 

For eleven long years he and Richard, his 
son, 

Strove to make of the realm a Republican 
one. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 61 

A. D. 

1660. But at last, having failed, the king's power 
was restored, 

And banished Charles Second made sov- 
ereign lord. 

In his reign came the Plague into London's 
great town, 

And afterward fire burned a fifth of it down. 

1685. James Second was a bigot, to weakness in- 
clined ; 
Bv flying to France, he his kingdom re- 
signed. 

1689. Next William of Orange, with Mary, the 
queen. 
Filled the throne that her father had left 
in chagrin. 

1702. Queen Anne, Mary's sister, stands next in 
the line. 
Called the "Good," from her character 
truly benign. 

1714. George First, (line of Brunswick,) of 

memory dear, 
Died, lamented by all, in his sixty-ninth 

year. 
6 



62 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

A. D. 

1727. George Second was brave; governed wisely 
and well ; 
Closed his war by the treaty of Aix-la- 
Chapelle. 

1760. The reign of George Third stands on his- 
tory's page 
As the longest, most prosperous, and best 

of the age. 
We Yankees won bravely our liberties true, 
While Bonaparte lost the renowned Wa- 
terloo. 

1820. George Fourth was unworthy so honest a 
sire; 
In his character little is found to admire. 

1830. William Fourth, Duke of Clarence, was 
mild and serene ; 
Died well stricken in years — more than 
three score and ten. 

1837. Victoria, beloved, who now governs the 

realm, 
Has proved hers-elf worthy to stand at its 

helm. 
Long, long may she live, and her virtues 

increase. 
While her wisdom and prudence bring 

blessings and peace. 



CHAKT OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 



NAMES 


OF THE PATRIAECHS. 


Adam, 


Lamech, 


Reu, 


Seth, 


Noah, 


Serug, 


Enos, 


Shem, 


Nahor, 


Cainan, 


Arphaxad, 


Terah, 


Mahalaleel, 


Salah, 


Abraham, 


Jared, 


Heber, 


Isaac, 


Methuselah, 


Peleg, 


Jacob. 




SONS OF JACOB. 




Reuben, 


Gad, 


Joseph, 


Simeon, 


Asher, 


Benjamin, 


Levi, 


Issachar, 


Dan, 


Judah, 


Zebulon, 


Naphtali. 



Moses, 
Joshua, 



JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 



Othniel, 

Deborah and Barak, 
63 



64 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 



JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 

Gideon, Ibzan, 

Abimelech, Elon, 

Tolali, Abdon, 

Jair, Samson, 

Jephtba, Eli, 

Samuel. 



KINGS OF ALL ISRAEL. 

Saul, David, Solomon. 



KINGS OF JUDAH. 



Rehoboam, 

Abijah, 

Asa, 

Jehoshaphat, 

Jelioram, 

Ahaziab, 

Athaliah, 

Joash, 

Amaziah, 

Uzziah, or Azariali, 



Jotham, 

Ahaz, 

Hezekiah, 

Manasseh, 

Amon, 

tTosiah, 

Jehoiachim, 

Jehoiachin, 

Zedekiah. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

KINGS OF ISRAEL. 

Jeroboam, Jehoahaz, 

Nadab, Jehoash, 

Baasha, Jeroboam II., 

Elah, Zecbariab, 

Zimri, Omri, Tibni, Shallum, 

Omri (reigned alone), Menahem, 

Ahab, Pekahiah, 

Ahaziab, Pekah, 

Jehoram, Hoshea. 
Jehu, 



65 



KINGS OF ASSYRIA. 
(Mentioned in the Scripture.) 



So, 

Tiglath-pileser, 
Baladan, 
Shalmaneser, 
Merodach Baladan, 
Sennacherib, 
Esarhaddon, 
Sargon, 
Sardanapalus, 
6* 



Tihakah, 

Arphaxad, 

Pharaoh-Necho, 

Nebuchadnezzar, 

Pharaoh-Hophrah, 

Darius the Mede, 

Belshazzar, 

Cyrus, 

Ahasuerus. 



E 



66 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 



NAMES OF THE PROPHETS. 



Ezra, 


Obadiah, 


Nehemiali, 


Jonah, 


Isaiah, 


Micah, 


Jeremiah, 


Nahum, 


Ezekiel, 


Habakkuk, 


Daniel, 


Zephaniah, 


Hosea, 


Haggai, 


Joel, 


Zechariah, 


Amos, 


Malachi. 



^ THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 



Simon Peter, 

Andrew, 

James and John, the 

sons of Zebedee, 
Philip, 

Bartholomew, 
Thomas, 
Matthew, 



James, the son of Al- 

pheus, 
L e b b e u s, surnamed 

Thaddeus, 
Simon, the Canaanite, 
Judas Iscariot, 
Matthias, chosen in 

place of Judas. 



THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 



OLD TESTAMENT. 



IN Genesis the world was made by God's crea- 
tive hand ; 
In Exodus the Hebrews marched to gain the 

promised land. 
Leviticus contains the Law — the holy, just, and 

good ; 
Numbers records the tribes enrolled — all sons of 

Abraham's blood. 
Moses, in Deuteronomy^ records God's mighty 

deeds. 
Brave Joshua, into Canaan's land, the host of 

Israel leads. 
In Judges their rebellion oft provokes the Lord 

to smite; 
But Ruth records the faith of one well j^leasing 

in His sight. 
In First and Second Samuel, of Jesse's son we 

read; 
Ten tribes in First and Second Kings revolted 

from his seed. 

67 



68 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

The First and Second Chronicles, see Judah cap- 
tive made ; 

But Ezra leads a remnant back, by princely 
Cyrus' aid. 

The city walls of Zion, Nehemiah builds again ; 

While Esther saved her people from plots of 
wicked men. 

In Job we read how faith will live beneath afflic- 
tion's rod ; 

And David's Psalms are precious songs to every 
child of God. 

The Proverbs, like a goodly string of choicest 
pearls appear ; 

Ecclesiastes teaches man how vain are all things here. 

The mystic Song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon's 
Kose; 

While Christ, the Saviour and the King, the 
" rapt Isaiah " shows. 

The warning Jeremiah, apostate Israel scorns ; 

His plaintive Lamentations their awful downfall 
mourns. 

Ezehiel tells, in wondrous words, of dazzling mys- 
teries ; 

While kings and empires yet to come, Daniel in 
vision sees. 

Of judgment and of mercy, Hosea loves to tell ; 

Joel describes the blessed days when God with 
man shall dwell. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 69 

Among Tekoa's herdsmen, Amos received his 

call; 
While Obadiah prophesies of Edom's final fall. 
Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, our 

risen Lord. 
Micah pronounces Judah lost — lost, but again 

restored. 
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment shall 

be poured. 
A view of Chaldea's coming doom, Habahhuk's 

visions give ; 
Next Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent, 

and live. 
Haggai wrote to those who saw the temple built 

again ; 
And Zechariah prophesied of Christ's triumphant 

reign. 
Malachi was the last who touched the high pro- 
phetic chord ; 
Its final notes sublimely show the coming of the 

Lord. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 

Matthew and Mark, and LuJce and John, the Holy 

Gospel wrote ; 
Describing how the Saviour lived — His death — 

and all He taught. 



70 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Acts prove how God the Apostles owned with 

signs in every place ; 
St. Paul, in Romans, teaches us how man is saved 

by grace. 
The Apostle, in Corinthians, instructs, exhorts, 

reproves ; 
Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone the 

Father loves. 
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians 

ought to be ; 
Colossians bids us live to God, and for eternity. 
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will 

come from heaven ; 
In Timothy and Titus, a Bishop's rule is given. 
Philemon marks a Christian's love, which only 

Christians know ; 
Hebrews reveals the Gospel, prefigured by the Law. 
James teaches, without holiness, faith is but vain 

and dead ; 
St. Peter points the narrow way in which the 

Saints are led. 
John, in his three Epistles, on love delights to 

dwell ; 
St. Jude gives awful warning of judgment, wrath, 

and hell. 
The Revelation prophesies of that tremendous day. 
When Christ, and Christ alone, shall be the 

trembling sinner's stay. M. R. 



ARITHMETIC. 



ARITHMETIC teaches us children to count ; 
To understand numbers, and tell their 
amount ; 
Four rules are the bases that govern the science, 
On knowing these truly must be our reliance. 

Addition, the first, teaches how to unite 
Two numbers or more, and their value to write. 
First placing them plainly on paper or slate. 
With units, tens, hundreds" — in sums small or 

great, 
Then add up the column upon your right hand. 
And set down the amount in the order they stand ; 
Not forgetting to carry, if tens there should be, 
Adding with the next column in just the same way ;, 
Until, having counted the lines one by one, 
Setting down tens and units, your labor is done. 

Subtraction is taking one sum from another ; 
And, if understood rightly, will give you no bother. 
Thus, take one from a dozen will leave you eleven ; 
Take three marbles from teii, and 'twill leave you 
but seven; 

71 



72 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

While the sum that is left, a remainder we call, 
Yet if figures were equal, there 's none left at all. 

Next, Multiplication our study invites ; 
But, before on the slate one figure he writes, 
Let the learner fix firm in his memory, if able. 
The thing most important — a key, called " the 

table." 
Thus having assistance forever at hand, 
No matter how great be the multiplicand , 
Or how large is the number you multiply by. 
Take each figure in turn — soon the product you '11 

spy- 
Then placing the numbers below, side by side. 
You may prove them correct when you 've learned 

to divide. 

By rule fourth, we Divide into fractions, or parts, 
Any number of units — pies, candies, or tarts. 
Thus, dividing six pennies between you and me, 
It is plainly perceived that we each will have three. 
So getting the rule clearly fixed in our pates, 
We can cipher large numbers the best on our 

slates ; 
And with a kind teacher our studies to guide, 
We '11 find it grow easy when longer we 've tried ; 
Till passing along from one rule to another, 
A great and broad science we soon will discover. 



NUMBEES. 




Roman Numbers. 




I stands for . . one . 


1 


II 


. two . 


2 


III 


. three 


o 


IV 


. four . 


4 


V 


. five . 


5 


VI 


. six . 


6 


VII 


. seven 


7 


VIII 


. eight 


' 8 


IX 


. nine . 


9 


X 


. ten . 


. 10 


XI 


. eleven 


11 


XII 


. twelve 


. 12 


XIII 


. thirteen . 


. 13 


XIV 


. fourteen . 


14 


XV 


. fifteen 


15 


XVI 


. sixteen 


. 16 


XVII 


. seventeen . 


. 17 


XVIII 


. eighteen . 


. 18 


XIX 


. nineteen . 


. 19 


XX 


. twenty 


. 20 


XX and I are 


. twenty-one 


. 21 


7 


73 





74 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 



Eoman Numbers. 






XX and II are . 


twenty-two 


. 22 


XX " III " . 


twenty-three 


. 23 


XX " IV " . 


twenty-four 


. 24 


XX " V " . 


twenty-five 


. 25 


XXX " I " . 


thirty-one 


. 31 


X before L (XL) is forty . 


. 40 


L . . . 


fifty . 


. 50 


X after L (LX) 


sixty . 


. 60 


XX " L (LXX) seventy 


. 70 


XXX " L (LXXX) eighty . 


. 80 


X before C (XC) 


ninety . 


. 90 


C . . . 


one hundred 


. 100 


C and I (CI) . 


one hundred 


&one 101 


CC . . . 


two hundred 


. 200 


ccc . . . 


tliree hundre 


i . 300 


cccc . 


four hundred 


. 400 


D . . . 


five hundred 


. 500 


D and C (DC) 


six hundred 


. 600 


M . . . 


one thousand. 


. 1000 



GKAMMAK. 



THREE little words we often see, 
Are Articles — a, an, and the. 

A Noun 's the name of anything ; 
As house or garden, hoop or swing. 

Instead of nouns, the Pronouns stand, 
/, thou, she, it, my house, thy hand. 

Adjectives tell the kind of noun 

As great, small, pretty, white or brown. 

Conjunctions join the nouns together ; 
As men arid children, wind or weather. 

A Prepodtioyi stands before 

A noun ; as in or through a door. 

Verbs tell of something being done ; 
To read, write, cipher, jump or run. 

75 



76 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

How things are done, the Adverbs tell ; 
As sloidij, quickly, ill or well. 

An Interjection shows surprise , 

As — Ah ! how witty ! Oh ! how wise ! 

The whole we call nine parts of speech, 
Which reading, writing, speaking teach. 



ASTRONOMY. 



SCIENCE means knowledge ; and Astronomy 
is the science of the heavenly bodies — that 
is, the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The word Astron- 
omy is derived from two Greek words — Astron, a 
star, and nomos, a law, and teaches the laws of 
the stars. 

The Solar System is named from the Latin 
word Sol, the Sun, and includes the Sun and all 
the planets and comets that revolve around him. 

The planets are those stars, or worlds, that are 
known to revolve around their centre, the Sim, 
and receive their light and heat from him. 

The principal planets are called primary, and 
their moons, or satellites, secondary. These last 
are constantly revolving around their primary 
planets, and with them make their revolutions 
around the Sun. 

The orbit of a planet is its path around the 
Sun. 

The Comets are a strange class of objects, 



78 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

about which little is known. Instead of keeping 
at a regular distance from the Sun, as the planets 
do, they sometimes approach very near him, and 
then retreat to an immense distance — their orbits 
being very eccentric, or in the shape of an egg. 
They have long, flaming trains of light, and move 
with great rapidity. Many persons will remember 
the Comet of 1858, which disappeared, after shin- 
ing brightly for a few weeks, and is now many 
millions of miles from us, perhaps visible to the 
inhabitants of the most remote planets. 

The Sun is 1,400,000 times larger than our 
earth, and five hundred times as large as all the 
other planets put together. 

* The planet Mercury is thirty-seven millions 
of miles from the Sun, and takes about three of 
our mouths to go around the Sun. Its diameter 
or distance through the centre is about three 
thousand miles. 

Venus is sixty-nine millions of miles from the 
Sun, and takes about seven of our months to go 
around the Sun. Its diameter is about eight thou- 
sand miles. 

The Earth is ninety-five millions of miles from 
the Sun, and takes one year to go around the Sun. 

^- In these distances and dimensions, round numbers are 
given instead of fractions. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 79 

Its diameter is about eiglit thousand miles. It 
has one moon. 

Mars is one hundred and forty-five millions of 
miles from the Sun, and takes nearly two of our 
years to go around the Sun. Its diameter is four 
thousand five hundred miles. 

The smallest planets are called Asteroids, or 
little stars. Their names are Flora, Clio, Vesta, 
Iris, Metis, Hebe, Parthenope, Egeria, Astrsea, 
Irene, Eunomia, Juno, Ceres, Pallas, Hygeia, etc. 
They are named in the order of their distances 
from the Sun — the most distant is the last men- 
tioned ; they vary between two hundred and ten 
and three hundred millions of miles from the 
Sun, and take about four-and-a-half years to go 
around the Sun. Their average diameter is about 
five hundred miles. 

Jupiter is four hundred and ninety-six millions 
of miles from the Sun, and takes about twelve 
years to go around him. Its diameter is about 
eighty-nine thousands of miles. It has four 
moons. 

Saturn is nine hundred millions of miles from 
the Sun, and takes about thirty years to go around 
him. Its diameter is about seventy -nine thou-" 
sands of miles. It has ei^ht moons and two 
bright rings encircling it. 



80 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

Herscliel, or Uranus, is eighteen hundred mil- 
lions of miles from the Sun, and takes eighty- 
four of our years to go around him. Its diameter 
is thirty-five thousands of miles. It has six moons. 

Neptune is twenty-nine hundred millions of 
miles from the Sun, and takes about one hundred 
and sixty-five years to go around him. Its diam- 
eter is thirty-one thousands of miles. It is sup- 
posed to have several moons, although but one 
has been distinctly seen. 

It is almost impossible for a child to under- 
stand how vast these distances are ; to assist his 
ideas, we will therefore suppose a railroad laid 
from the Sun to the planet Neptune, the most 
distant in the solar system. If a train could run 
at a rate of thirty miles an hour without stopping, 
it would reach Mercury, the nearest planet, in 
one hundred and fifty-two years, the Earth in 
three hundred and sixty-one years, Jupiter in 
nineteen hundred years, and Neptune in nearly 
eleven thousand years. 

Think how far every ray of sunshine must 
travel to lighten and warm those distant worlds ! 
Truly is it declared that with God a single day 
is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as 
one day ! 

There is no study that gives us grander or more 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 81 

sublime ideas of God than that of Astronomy. 
David says, " When I consider thy heavens, the 
work of thy fingers ; the moon and the stars which 
thou hast ordained ; what is man that thou art 
mindful of him, and the Son of man, that thou 
visitest him! " Ps. viii. "The heavens declare the 
glory of God, and the firmament showeth his 
handiwork." Ps. xix. 

And yet even this great solar system, immense 
as it is to us, is, perhaps, but one among many 
more ; for the fixed stars are supposed to be other 
suns like ours, although their distance is so in- 
conceivable as to place them beyond the reach of 
our observation. 

Think, dear children, of the condescension of 
this great God, who gave his only Son to redeem 
a single one of these countless worlds, and who 
will even hear and answer the prayers of sinners 
who call upon Him ; who has said that not even a 
sparrow can fall to the ground without His notice. 



THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 

The stars that twinkle overhead, 
Like diamonds in the sky. 

And shine when we have gone to bed. 
Up in their home so high ! 
F 



82 A LADDEPw TO LEARNING. 

Are wondrous planets like our own, 

Revolving round the Sun ; 
Receiving thence their light and heat, 

As all their courses run. 

Mercury, nearest to the Sun, 

We seldom can descry ; 
His lesser ray is lost beside 

The dazzling king of day. 

Venus, our morn or evening star. 
More plainly may be known ; 

Brightest of all the starry hosts, 
In beauty reigns alone. 

Next moves the Earth, with her one moon. 

Among her sister spheres. 
And as the others shine to us, 

To them our star appears. 

Mars, by its hue of rosy red. 

We plainly may discern ; 
And Jupiter, with four large moons, 

We find the fifth in turn. 

Saturn has two bright rings or belts 

Encircling it around ; 
Eight moons to shine — its Avintry night 

Most brilliant must be found. 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 83 

Herschel comes next, with his six moons, 

The long, cold night to cheer ; 
And Neptune, fai'ther distant yet, 

Must have a wintry year. 

Then smaller planets yet we find 

Among the larger spheres. 
But seldom to the naked eye 

An Asteroid appears. 

These all, at various distances. 

Revolve around the Sun, 
Kept in their orbits since the day 

Creation's work was done ; 

By the great God, who hung them there 

In that unmeasured space. 
And who in matchless wisdom gave 

To each its time and place. 

And all these myriad shining stars 

That twinkle up on high 
Are, doubtless, other suns and worlds 

Revolving in the sky. 

How vast, how infinite must be 
The God who placed them there ; 

Yet hears each word when children pray. 
And numbers every hair. 



84 A LADDER TO LEAKNTNG. 
THE MOON. 

As the Moon is, to our evening observation, the 
most conspicuous object in the heavens, and is 
very important in its influences upon the Earth, 
we have thought it quite Avorthy of a short chap- 
ter, in order that we might explain to our little 
readers as clearly, but briefly, as possible, some of 
these various influences and appearances. 

It is one of the class of planets called secon- 
dary, because it accompanies the Earth, which 
is a primary or principal planet, and revolves 
around it. 

The Moon may be said to have three motions ; 
first, turning upon its own axis ; secondly, revolv- 
ing round the Earth ; thirdly, its annual revolu- 
tion, in company with the Earth, around the 
Sun. 

The Moon's year is 29 J of our days — that 
being the time required for one of its revolutions 
around the Earth. During that time it turns but 
once on its axis, so that it can have but one day 
and night in its year. 

This period is what we term a lunar month, 
being rather less than a calendar month ; thirteen 
of these lunar months, or twelve calendar ones, 
make one of our years. 

The light of the Moon does not proceed from 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 85 

itself, but is reflected from the Sun, just as a 
mirror will give back the brightness that shines 
upon it from a lamp placed before it ; thus when 
it is night on this side of the Earth, the Moon 
shines upon us with this reflected light, although 
we cannot see the Sun itself, from whom the light 
is borrowed. 

To our eyes the Moon appears to be larger than 
any other planet, but it is really the smallest; 
it seems so only because it is so much nearer than 
any other. Its distance from us is about 240,000 
miles, and its diameter, or measurement through 
the centre, a little more than 2000 miles. 

If we look at the Moon through a telescope, 
we may see what seem to be its mountains, val- 
lies, seas, and rivers ; and Astronomers feel pretty 
sure that these do exist, as the surface is very 
uneven ; and the shadows of the mountains can 
be plainly seen when the Sun's light falls upon 
their sides ; but as the distance is very great be- 
tween our two planets, we can never arrive at 
any very correct knowledge of these things ; the 
most we can do is to study its movements and 
general properties. 

An Eclipse is the darkening of the whole or a 
part of either the Sun or Moon, and may hence 
be termed either a total or a partial eclipse. An 
8 



86 A LADDER TO LEARNING. 

eclipse of the Sun is called a solar eclipse, and 
that of the Moon a lu7iar eclipse; and as one or 
more occur almost every year, we will often have 
opportunities of seeing them for ourselves; if, 
however, we are informed of their cause, we shall 
find an increased interest and pleasure in observ- 
ing them. 

An eclipse of the Sun is caused by the 3foon 
passing between the Earth and the Su7i, and cast- 
ing its shadow upon the Earth. 

Eclipses of the 3Ioon take place whenever the 
Earth comes between the Sim and Moon, thus 
making its own shadow to be seen on the bright 
surface of the Moon. It never happens except 
at juil Moon. 

The changes or phases of the Moon are caused 
by its revolution around the Earth. When it is 
in such a position that the whole of the bright 
side is towards us, we call it full Moon ; but as it 
passes onward in its path around the Earth, this 
bright surface is gradually turned away from us, 
and appears less and less every evening until it 
quite disappears, and then, having completed its 
circuit, it re-appears in the west, just after sunset, 
as new Moon. 

Another remarkable phenomenon produced by 
the Moon is seen in the tides. By these we mean 



A LADDEPw TO LEARNING. 87 

the alternate rising and falling of the waters of 
the ocean and rivers, called flowing or ebbing of 
the tide, and it is caused entirely by the attraction 
of the Moon, or of the Sun and Moon combined. 
But in this short lesson it would be impossible 
to give more than a faint outline of the subject ; 
our chief intention is to interest children in this 
great science of Astronomy, and, by explaining a 
few of the main points, lead them to study it more 
thoroughly from larger works. 



MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 



Of these there are 


twelve 






The First month h 


5 called 


January, and has 

31 days. 


" Second, 




February, 28 ' 




" Third, 




March, 31 ' 




" Fourth, 




April, 30 ' 




" Fifth, 




May, 31 ' 




" Sixth, 




June, 30 ' 




" Seventh, 




July, 31 ' 




" Eighth, 




August, 31 * 




" Ninth, 




September, 30 ' 




" Tenth, 




October, 31 ' 




" Eleventh, 




November, 30 ' 




" Twelfth, 




December, 31 ' 





Thirty days has September, 
April, June, and November, 
All the rest have thirty-one. 
Excepting February alone. 
To which we twenty-eight assign, 
Till Leap -Year gives it twenty-nine. 

88 



A LADDER TO LEARNING. 89 

Leap -Year happens every fourth year, and has 
one day more than other years — three hundred 
and sixty-six instead of three hundred and sixty- 
five, which is the usual number of days in the 
year. We may always know which is Leap -Year 
by dividing its figures by 4 ; if this can be done 
without a remainder, it is Leap -Year. Thus, the 
year 1868 was Leap -Year, and its figures, if di- 
vided by 4, will leave no remainder. 
8* 



^ 



December, 

January, 

February, 

March, 

April, 

May, 

June, 
July, 
August, 

September, 

October, 

November, 



THE SEASONS. 



Are called Winter. 

Are called Spring, because 
the grass and flowers then 
spring up. 

Are called Summer. 



^ Are called Autumn, or Fall, 
because the leaves then 



} 



fall. 



Spring is the time to sow the grain ; 
In summer fruits and flow^ers grow ; 
The harvest we in autumn gain 
Before the storms of winter blow. 

90 



THE END. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRES-S 

lliillllliiiilllilllllili 



019 840 083 A 



